10 Little Known Facts About the Andy Griffith Show
The show was originally supposed to be called “Danny Thomas Goes to Mayberry” and was actually a backdoor pilot for a potential spin-off.- The town of Mayberry was based on Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina.
- Griffith and Don Knotts were actually good friends in real life, and their on-screen chemistry was a result of their natural friendship.
- Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee, was actually a trained stage actress and was originally hesitant to take the role.
- The character of Gomer Pyle was originally only supposed to appear in one episode, but his popularity led to a spin-off series called “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”
- In 1965, Andy Griffith (1960-1968) sixth season premiered in color, becoming one of CBS’ earliest shows to do so. The episodes that follow this transition stretch the limits of Mayberry’s fictional white world, integrating (on a few occasions) characters of color.
- In order to make the show feel more authentic, the writers would often use real-life stories and experiences from the cast and crew.
- The famous whistling theme song was actually written by the show’s composer, Earle Hagen, and was inspired by the sound of a real-life jail door slamming.
- The character of Barney Fife was originally supposed to be a much more serious and straight-laced character, but Don Knotts added his own comedic spin to the role.
- The show’s popularity led to a boom in tourism for the town of Mount Airy, which still attracts fans of the show to this day.
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